Paradox
noun /ˈpærədɒks/ — Two opposite things that are both true at once.
Definition
A seemingly contradictory statement that may nonetheless express a truth; a situation that appears logically impossible but is real.
Beyond the definition
Life is full of paradoxes and most people spend their lives trying to resolve them. The sophisticated mind learns to hold them. The harder you try to be funny, the less funny you are. Rest is often the most productive thing you can do.
Origin & history
From Greek paradoxos — contrary to expectation (para 'against' + doxa 'opinion').
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
The paradox of choice: more options somehow leads to less satisfaction.
His kindness and cruelty coexisted — a paradox that made him impossible to understand.
The paradox of privacy: the more we protect it, the more we have to give up to protect it.
Synonyms
Antonyms
consistency, agreement, harmony
Related words
- oxymoron
- dichotomy
- irony
- cognitive-dissonance
Paradox vs contradiction
A contradiction is simply two things that cannot both be true — a logical incompatibility. A paradox is a contradiction that somehow resolves, or that contains a deeper truth beneath the apparent impossibility. You resolve a contradiction by showing one side is wrong; a paradox remains true on both sides simultaneously. Contradictions frustrate logic; paradoxes expand it.
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Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Person looking at waste and plant
An adult looks between a reusable bag and plastic packaging next to a plant, showing discomfort and reflection.
The contradiction between the person's apparent care for the plant and their use of excessive packaging reflects a reality that holds two opposing behaviors, acting as a visual embodiment of a logical inconsistency.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration